This blog is for those who have travelled EuroVelo 6 and want to help those who are planning to travel EuroVelo 6.

Introduction

IntroductionEarly in 2010 we were cycle touring in France and stumbled across EuroVelo 6. We then made an impromptu decision to follow it for a few weeks. The official website, http://www.eurovelo6.org/, does not provide enough detail to allow good planning.

Maps for the French and Romanian sections are now available. Maps for the central section are being prepared but no release date has been announced.

We found that the maps for the French section were not completely accurate as some sections have been realigned, and do not always show route through the larger cities. Portions of the route are still not marked so there are a few challenges.

The maps do not provide accurate information about what accommodation is available, though there is an accompanying guidebook but we have not seen one for sale. Some of the regional tourist boards do have information about accommodation.

This blog is to share information about EuroVelo 6 so those who had ride part or all of the route can share their experience and advice with those who are planning to undertake a ride all it.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

iPad, Netbooks and Guide Books

In the not too distant past, a cycle tourist went to a good bookshop and brought a guidebook for the region through which they intended to travel. Then hoped the guidebook was reasonably up to date and accurate. After arrival, the traveller’s knowledge base is updated using advice from locals and other travellers.

The advent of the internet means that you could get up to date information but computers were not portable. Every time you arrived at a new town, an internet cafe was high on the list of things search out.

Modern laptops and inexpensive WiFi means it is possible to log into hotel, restaurant and bar networks. Roaming charges for 3G phone and internet access are horrendous in Europe so management of hotels and restaurants often provide free or cheap WiFi for travellers. Many cycle tourists and back packers now pack a netbook.

Foolishly, earlier this year, we decided that the weight of a netbook and charger was too much to carry for little benefit, as we thought Internet Cafes were plentiful in Europe. However, due to the proliferation of free WiFi the demand for internet cafes has decreased to the point where they are only found in the larger tourist towns. It is now common to see people researching the next stage of their journey, updating their FaceBook pages, blogs and checking their emails at cafes and restaurants using a free WiFi connection.

We, on the other hand, were carrying a guidebook and a thick bundle of notes. After a few weeks, we also accumulated several hotel directories. The combined weight was greater than that of a netbook. We could have also used the netbook to maintain our dairies and track our expenses thereby saving some more weight. We could also used the netbook to back up our digital images and netbook to book accommodation ahead.

Recently I obtained an iPad. This light, thin device is a useful tool for accessing the internet, checking emails and performing some simple tasks. It appears to be more robust than a netbook, but does not have all the features of a netbook. However, do you need all the features of a netbook on the road?

We know in the French portion of EuroVelo 6 WiFi internet access is common in most 2 and 3 Star Hotels. If not then a cafe or restaurant with WiFi and for the price of a coffee and sandwich you can connect to the internet. In any case, you have to eat.

Along the Central Portion and Eastern Portions of EuroVelo 6 is WiFi internet access available?

Has anybody taken an iPad on a cycle tour? Was it useful or would a netbook have been better?

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What we are about

This blog is for those who have travelled EuroVelo 6 and want to help those who are planning to travel EuroVelo 6. Feel free to add your comments about your trials and tribulations on EuroVelo 6. We had so many we want to travel the entire length.